How to Make an Industrial Factory Window Shower Door
Q-Tips do the trick for removing with more precision to get a crisp, clean edge.
Even though I had to fix my mistakes, it turned out great!
Step 6. Spray paint the 3 cut moulding pieces with the hammered black. I did these in my garage.
I used the black marker so it wouldn’t show later on the inside of the glass against the black moulding pieces.
If you make mistakes, just wipe away any permanent marker with nail polish remover.
This adhesive dries completely clear, is extremely strong, and is temperature and moisture resistant to make it durable against the humidity in a bathroom.
Step 11. I used the same process with the Loctite GO2 Glue for the horizontal pieces to place over my door markings. I used a small level again to double check them and adjust as needed before setting them in place.
(That level, by the way, is older than I am since it was handed down from my husband’s grandfather. It’s seen a lot of action, so it’s looking a bit shabby.)
Step 12. To seal any cracks behind the moulding pieces and prevent mold or mildew from settling between the polystyrene and the glass, I used clear latex caulk.
Hi Lauren!
What an incredible DIY!! I was looking at these types of doors online last week and as you’d mentioned, they’re way out of the budget! My master has hideous ivy wallpaper (I’ve been trying to strip, probably gonna have to replace sheet rock at this point) and a BRASS shower enclosure that I’ve been trying to decide whether to replace or attempt painting it. After seeing your shower door I may be brave and go for the spray paint. I also noticed in the picture a wall above the tub that has wood planks. Do you have a post on that too? I’ve been debating between wood planks or faux stone. Ultimately I want to gut the bathroom but I’m looking for affordable alternatives to “make-do” for a couple years.
Thanks for sharing!! Might be trying this in a couple weeks!
Hi Lisa! I’m so glad it could inspire you to make some budget-friendly changes! Here is my tutorial for my bathroom plank wall: https://www.blesserhouse.blogspot.com/2015/01/walking-plank-master-bathroom-progress.html It’s certainly cheaper than stone. Just make sure you give the wood a good coat or two of marine grade polyurethane on both sides to stand up to moisture. Hope that helps! 🙂
Amazing idea tanks!!!
Fantastic! I had figured out the spray paint part but couldn’t figure out how you had done the window pane look. Great idea and work!!
Did you apply the grid trim to the interior of the shower doors too? What does the glass look like from the inside?
I didn’t apply a grid to the interior because I wanted to keep that side easier to clean from soap scum. It’s hard to get a picture of the inside since it’s such a tight space. But because the adhesive is clear as well as the caulk, it looks good from the inside too. We just see the grids pressed against the glass from the inside.
This was such a great idea!
Thanks, Rebekah!
This is AMAZING! I’ve always loved this look (thanks to Pinterest) but had no idea how to go about it. What an affordable alternative!
Great project! I saw you used nail polish removerer on your shower pan. Just a word of caution, if the pan is fiber glass, nail polish will etch the surface. I found out the hard way on a fiber glass tub. But again, great project. Thanks for sharing.
Oh wow! That’s scary! Thankfully, mine was okay. Thanks for the tip.
Hi,
Did you also paint the silver frame of the shower doors on the interior of the shower? I have the same doors and am contemplating doing this too!
Thanks
Hi Heather! Yes, I painted the interior as well. I just didn’t get a picture of it since it’s such a tight spot to snap a photo. We use our shower every day, and still haven’t had any paint chipping or scratching off and it’s been 2 months. It’s been really durable so far.
Thank you so much!
When I first saw a pic of an industrial grid screen a few years ago I wished, wished, wished we had a shower screen I could attempt a DIY version on (we have a curved screen – urghhh) so it’s great to see yours instead! It turned out awesome.
Just one question, I struggle with the tediousness of prep so do you think it would have been easier to remove the screen, paint it, then re-install it? I know it might sound daunting, though it’s not a difficult DIY. Most screens are simply screwed and caulked in.
Stellar job!
Thanks, Kristine! I probably could have removed the whole thing but I was afraid of completely messing it up. Plus, I didn’t have the arm muscle since my husband wasn’t around when I did it. (He doesn’t seem to bat an eye anymore when I do this kind of thing. Haha) I’m sure it could be removed though.
Thanks so much for this- I have been looking everywhere for an alternative to actually replacing my windows- looks fantastic, thanks very much!
Hi Lauren….. Absolutely love your shower door “re-do”.
The home we just purchased has full length shower door but they are the kind that both doors slide back & forth and have a bar mid-length (one on inside of the door and the other door has handle on outside)…..
I’m thinking your enhancement could be modified for them – however, there is a top & bottom frame/track to facilitate the sliding of each door….. that may chip the paint.
Any thoughts??? Thanks so much….
Janice
That’s definitely a bit trickier. I personally don’t think I would risk it on a sliding door because you’d be creating a lot of friction. And if there isn’t enough room between the two doors when they slide, the grid might be too thick.
You could get a similar but flat look by using black vinyl for the framing.They have marine grade that will withstand water and while it won’t have the dimension of the trim, it will still look good in my opinion.
LOVE THIS exactly what I wanted to do to mine (I have your exact shower!) How many coats did you spray total?
Thanks, Kelley! I did 3 thin coats of the spray paint. It’s held up really well even 6 months later.
Lauren,
This looks fabulous!! What does it look like from inside the shower? Can you see the glue? Is it hard to clean between the grids?
Thanks for the wonderful project,
Melanie
Still holding up well? Looks great!
That looks awesome. I totally love it.
Is the spray paint still holding up?
How has it held up after a year later? Thanks so much for the inspiration?
I don’t want to burst your bubble, it looks great now; but I have seen shower door frames that have been painted and it doesn’t last. especially on and around the door pull. Not sure about the rest of the frame close to the glass where it is cleaned often.
Good luck, hope yours does better.
Now we are into 2017 and I am interested in doing this to my shower, is it still holding up?
Hi, is this the same spray? RUST-OLEUM UNIVERSAL BLACK HAMMERED EFFECT SPRAY PAINT 400 ML. It doesn’t say primer and paint, I can’t seem to find that version.
What does the inside look like? Can you see the glue marks from inside the shower?
Hi Amy! Lauren reports: “You really can’t see the liquid glue at all since it’s clear. It blends right in with the black grids on the other side.”